Frankenstein: The Complete Screenplay: Written and Directed by Guillermo del Toro

by Guillermo del Toro

Frankenstein, directed by Guillermo del Toro, delves deep into the timeless tragedy of Victor Frankenstein—from his grisly experiments and the destruction wrought in their wake to his quest for redemption in the frigid Arctic—in this unforgettable reimagining of one of the most iconic literary works of all time.

Featuring stunning concept art, film stills, and behind-the-scenes photography, this official reproduction of the film’s complete screenplay invites readers into del Toro’s world as the classic story was adapted for the screen. With nuanced character development and poignant dialogue, the script brings fresh life to Shelley’s tale, exploring like never before the fractured relationship between creator and creation. From the tormented Victor Frankenstein to his tragic monster, del Toro’s unique artistic voice shines through every page, offering an immersive experience for fans of both the original novel and del Toro’s cinematic genius

Genres: Horror

240 pages, Hardcover

First published November 25, 2025

About the author

Guillermo del Toro is a Mexican director mostly known for his acclaimed films Pan's Labyrinth, The Devils Backbone, Crimson Peak and the Hellboy film franchise. His films draw heavily on sources as diverse as weird fiction, fantasy, horror, and war. In 2009, Del Toro released his debut novel, The Strain, co-authored with Chuck Hogan, as the first part of The Strain Trilogy, an apocalyptic horror series featuring vampires. The series continued with The Fall in 2010 and concluded with The Night Eternal in 2011.

Reviews

[Jessamyn Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is 2026 the year I return to reviewing books? We’ll see, but I’ll at least do my first book of the year.

Really appreciated that this used a shooting script rather than a cleaned up transcript like a lot of script books I’ve read.

I’m really hoping Netflix will release some deleted/extended scenes at some point, especially the Elizabeth-centered ones. I wish some of them had been left in as one of my few complaints with the movie was that I found her characterization to be a little bit lacking. And I’m not sure if they would add to the final film or not but some of the cuts to the Victor’s childhood portion are FASCINATING.

Quite nicely put together book with a lot of stills, quotes form GDT and storyboards for the most action packed sequences.

[Brenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a treat to read. Frankenstein is my favorite film of the year, so I was stoked to get my hands on the screenplay. It is so well written. With a script, the writer has to be much more precise and direct with their words as opposed to a novel, and Del Toro is clearly a master of his craft. Every description and piece of dialogue was sharp, moving, and beautiful. It is really cool to get to read the screenplay and see what changed and what didn’t from page to soundstage to screen. I also loved the addition of storyboards and images. This is the result of decades of Del Toro manifesting and dreaming of making this adaptation, and it is truly so special. I should have read it like Jacob did in a darkened room lit by flickering candlelight. That is what it deserves.

[Rhiannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fascinating to see how the script evolved into the final version we saw on screen. Some scenes in this version I can see why they were cut or rewritten, but there are quite a few that I wish were left in, especially when it comes to Elizabeth.

I also really loved the inclusion of the storyboards and stills. The captions from del Toro were enlightening in many cases.

[Jenn Kause · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of my favorite movies of the year and the script is so fascinating, I love GDT so much